International Law
The Suppression of Dru
Towson University, Blanca Abrego
The prohibition of drugs occurs domestically and internationally. While many drugs are illegal there is numerous countries that recognize the supply chain for medical and recreational use. In fact is only certain drugs are illegal worldwide. The most consumed drugs contain psychoactive substances such as prescription pills. While these drugs are legal some still purchase them through the black market. Further research lead us to find clear contradictory within the laws that say drugs are illegal, production is illegal but a small possession acceptable because it’ s not considered drug trafficking.
Claims for the use of drugs have been related to religious, and health benefits. Yet the movement of drugs in conducive of violent environment since its illegal and its trading can result dangerous. Many people are killed by the police in drug persecutions; also while trafficking the drugs from one country to another, traders are arrested and tortured for information. Violence is endless when it comes to illegal means. The fact that drugs create chemical addiction is very relevant for this industry because once you are an addict; is it because of genetic predisposition or just because you develop it you can’ t get cured. I think this is relevant because this is what keeps people consuming without being able to control themselves and this is what supports this industry.
Drug trading is not internationally seen as a crime and it is not subject to universal jurisdiction. In many cases drug trafficking is to be connected to universal jurisdiction because many of the drug trading funds are used for terrorism and other international crimes. There is something called the War on Drugs created by the US which is a law of drug prohibition that supports itself by claiming that the use of drugs brings violence and health concerns among others. The US is a really strong character in the drug prohibition because many countries had decided to support them at an international level and use their drug policy which makes the suppression of it a little more uniform across the globe. In New York they have a mandatory minimum sentence in which you can have 15 years of prison if you have in possession more than 113g. In California if you are caught in possession three times you will be subject to life prison, the United Kingdom has a similar law but instead of life incarceration you get 7 years.
There are some drugs that once were illegal but now are legal such as tobacco and alcohol. Even though they are legal now, the government tries to avoid their use by putting graphic images of possible consequences of smoking. Also both drugs have high taxes making the product expensive. When it comes to the human civil rights there is a dispute because many of the drug arrests are result of officers searching your personal property something that is illegal unless you have a warrant. This happens a lot because citizens are unaware that they can deny the searching. Since officers are seen as an authority you tend to follow their orders.
Some countries to avoid this searching issue use undercover law in which undercover officers will study the acts of someone and then when sure they will ask for a warrant making it legal to human rights. The bad part of this is that these officers are permitted to commit crimes if necessary, so as I mentioned before here is where drug persecution violence happens.
Because of the War on Drug institutions such as the Interpol had being created which facilitates the police cooperation internationally since trading is increasing every day.